Today's Gospel, Sun 22 Feb, plus Today's Services

 

Please scroll down for notes and notices. 


Services today

Everyone is welcome. Children and visitors are especially welcome.

  • Sun, 10am, Morning Prayer in Castlebar, followed by tea. Donations for tea/coffee today will go towards this year's Pancakes & Prayer Appeal (see below).
  • Sun 11.30am, The Holy Communion, in Westport, followed by tea. Donations for tea/coffee today will go towards this year's Pancakes & Prayer Appeal (see below).
  • Sun 3pm, The Holy Communion, in Dugort, Achill

  • Please note that next Sat, 28 Feb, is our All-age service in Turlough Church at 7pm. You're welcome! 


Poem, by Revd Cathy Hallisey


Today's Gospel  Matthew 4: 1-11


Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’  But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’

 

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’ Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’

 

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” ’


Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

 


Angels Ministering to Christ in the Wilderness
Thomas Cole, 1843
Public Domain, via
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=182991


Sacred Space

https://sacredspace.com/daily-prayer/2026-02-22


Christian Art

https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-4-1-11-2026/



Notes and Notices

Youth and Children

"Let the children come to me...: (Matthew 19:14)

Check out the new 'KidSpaces' in Christ Church Castlebar and Holy Trinity Westport, created to make church comfortable, engaging times of learning and growth in faith for children. For more information, please call the Rector, Revd Suzanne, on 0838003233. 


KidSpace: Christ Church Castlebar
Worship bulletin coloured by Zara  : )



Westport Sunday Club dates    8 March, 12 April, 3 May, 7 June

Please note amended date for May.



Youth Forum - opportunity


The Church of Ireland Youth Department (CIYD) National Youth Forum 2026 is happening from Friday evening 6th to Sunday 8th March 2026 at Dromantine Retreat Centre, Newry.  This event will be an opportunity for 15 - 18 year olds to come together with delegates from each of the dioceses of the Church of Ireland. It is hoped that each diocese will have approximately 8-10 representatives.

UDYC will organise transport to/from the event. The food and accommodation is organised by CIYD for the event. Thus there is no actual cost of attending the event, just time and energy. The group will leave after school, college and work finish on Friday, and everyone should be back home by 5 pm on Sunday. 

The focus this year for the Youth Forum 2026 will be on young people speaking with God, discussing and learning methods of hearing God through the Bible and prayer. While also building confidence in potential future leaders as young Christians
CIYD will be welcoming back Susie Mapledoram, Mark Wells and Ben Jones for the event. Bishop Ferran Glenfield of Kilmore, Elphin & Ardagh will be leading the opening session, and Prayer Spaces for Schools will also be there.

If your child/children are interested and available to attend, please let Edward at 087 2907553 know, or contact the Rector (083 800 3233).



Notice of Easter Vestry Meetings 2026 

(Subject to change)


·      Castlebar  10 March, 7.30pm, in the church 

.      Westport-Dugort  12 March, 7.30pm in Carrowbeg House

·      Turlough  21 March, after 7pm service


The purpose of the Easter Vestry meeting (the Annual Meeting of the General Vestry) is twofold:

1. The presentation of the previous year's accounts (2025); and

2. The election of a new Select Vestry for the year ahead (2026 - 2027).


All are welcome to the meeting and those whose names are on the General Vestry Register are entitled to vote. 


In a Triennial Year the following appointments are also made:

- A Diocesan Synodsperson for each parish or union, plus a Supplemental; and

- A Parochial Nominator for each parish or union, plus a Supplemental.

(NB Numbers can vary from parish to parish.)


If you wish to nominate someone for Select Vestry membership or for one of the above appointments, the individual must give their consent in advance. 

Further information, please contact us: email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org. 


Donations for Tea and Coffee on Sunday 22nd February, after the Castlebar and Westport services, will be towards the Church of Ireland 'Pancakes and Prayer Lent Campaign 2026. The fund is to support children in South Sudan and is overseen by the CoI Bishops’ Appeal. You can read about this online. 
For more info, contact the Hon. Treasurer of your parish, or the Rector.

Donations, large or small, will be towards this worthy campaign. Every little helps! 
Please see post, below.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1317184423770797&set=a.460256536130261 



Lent, Holy Week and Easter

[Ash Wednesday (18 Feb)
Service of Holy Communion
with imposition of ashes (optional)
- 10.30am in Holy Trinity Westport  
- 1pm in Christ Church Castlebar]  


Maundy Thursday (2 April):

Last Holy Communion until Easter Day,
with Washing of Feet and Stripping of the Altar
- 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Westport


Good Friday (3 April): 

- 12 noon in HTW       The Last Hours
A reading of the Passion Narrative

- 3pm in Christ church Castlebar     The Last Hours
A reading of the Passion Narrative

- 6pm Good Friday Ecumenical Walk of Witness 
starting from Holy Trinity Church, Newport Road, Westport, at 6pm
and concluding at St Mary’s Church on the Mall
All are invited and welcome, from any church tradition or none.

- 8pm Tenebrae in Christ Church Castlebar



Eve of Easter (4 April)

Sat, 7pm Turlough 


Easter Day (5 April)

Easter Holy Communion:

Castlebar 10am 

Holy Trinity Westport  11.30 

Achill   3pm  


Easter Monday (6 April)

Easter Communion on Inishbiggle 

Meeting at Doran's Point Ballycroy at 9.30am for 10am departure by curragh to the island. If you wish to reserve a place, please contact Revd Suzanne (0838003233). Details to follow and on request.  


Inishbiggle 'Easter Garden' in-the-making
with Rector's Church Warden, Chris Gibbs,
Spring 2025


 

Select Vestry Meetings (as notified):


·      Turlough  21 Feb, following the 7pm service

·      Westport-Dugort  26 Feb, 7.30pm in Carrowbeg House 


Easter Vestry Meetings (subject to change):

·      Castlebar  10 March, 7.30pm 

.      Westport-Dugort  12 March, 7.30pm in Carrowbeg House

·      Turlough  21 March, after 7pm service.

 

St Patrick's Day

St Patrick's Day, 17 March, will be celebrated with a special service to give thanks for our patron saint, in Holy Trinity Westport at 10am, with tea/coffee to follow. 


Fresh opportunities to serve, Westport: 

If you are willing to help on the Clean Team or on the Flower Team, please contact Barbara Shepphard. (Flowers next needed on Easter Day.) Thank you. 



Spring, Summer and Late Summer Concerts 
(Subject to change)
  • Cór Mhaigh Eo and a visiting choir from Competa (near Malaga), Spain, in Holy Trinity Westport, on the afternoon of Saturday 18 April. (Time tbc.)
  • A Social and Fundraising Event for St Thomas's Dugort is being planned for the evening of Friday 24 April. Details to follow. 
  • Bella Capella, in Christ Church, Castlebar, Saturday 6 June. Details to follow.
  • Blue Jazz Festival 'Gospel Hour' Service: Sunday 7 June, 11.30am in Holy Trinity Westport. 
  • Louisburgh Concert:  Wed 27 May, 7.30pm in Holy Trinity Westport
  • Scoil Acla Recital Concert: evening of Wed 29 July, in St Thomas's Dugort. Details to follow.
  • Westport Festival of Chamber Music: Concerts on Friday (evening) 11 Sept, Saturday (afternoon) 12 Sept, and Sunday (afternoon) 13 September, in Holy Trinity Westport. Details to follow from WFoCM. 



Regular Service Pattern 
in the Aughaval Parishes
Turlough

Saturdays Weekly at 7pm:  
- Holy Communion on 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month.
- Evening Prayer on 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.


Castlebar* 

Sundays Weekly at 10am: 
- Holy Communion on 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month.
- Morning Prayer on 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.
Open church every Friday from 11am - 1pm.

*Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No. 20206867


Westport  

- Sundays Weekly at 11.30am, in Holy Trinity Westport; Holy Communion or Morning Prayer
- Wednesdays at 10.30am, Midweek Holy Communion, followed by coffee in Cornrue. 



Dugort, Achill 

October - April inclusive
- 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion

May-September inclusive
- Services weekly at 3pm. Evening Prayer/ Holy Communion


Inishbiggle 

As announced. The next service in Holy Trinity Church, Inishbiggle, will be on Easter Monday, 6 April. Contact us for details. 


Online Prayer and Bible Reading every Wed at 8pm, via Zoom. Link:

https://us05web.zoom.us/j/83306729968?pwd=mVKnDXWs7Npn3aCnRPykJbJK7THANM.1





Giving towards the upkeep of the churches

The work and upkeep of the churches requires ongoing funding to meet costs. Each of our Church of Ireland parishes has charity (CRA) status - please see note below. 

One-time donations
You can securely give towards these costs and the upkeep of the churches using your phone or electronic device using the QR codes (below) which will direct you to the parishes’ iDonate pages. 

Regular giving 
Regular giving can be by means of the weekly envelope system (-information on request), or by standing order. 

Tax refund on donations
If you are a tax-payer, a tax refund on your donation can be made to your parish at no additional cost to you.

For help or more information, please contact one of the Hon Treasurers (contact details on request) or the Rector (details below), or see 

https://aughaval.tlk.ie/2025/11/giving-towards-upkeep-of-churches.html .


Thank-you for your help, and bless you +



Westport-Dugort Parishes 
(Info. Babs Strutt, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request) 



If you are able and willing to contribute to the fundraising efforts to cover the cost of the recent repair work to the ceiling of 'HTW', completed on 16 Jan, please contact Hon Treasurer, Babs Strutt (bstrutty@gmail.com), or use the Westport-Dugort QR code (above). All help is gratefully received. Thank you for all donations and support received to date. 


Christ Church, Castlebar  
(Info. Trevor Ardill, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request)
Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No. 20206867  



Turlough Parish Church
(Info. Karin Shaw, Hon. Treasurer - contact details on request)



Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) 

CRA status of the Aughaval Group of Parishes, United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland: 

Christ Church Castlebar is a registered charity: Registered Charity No. 20206867.
Westport-Dugort Union of Parishes and Turlough Parish are in process of applying for their own CRA registration numbers. In the interim the parishes are included in the CRA registration of the TLK Diocese, as outlined below by the Diocese: 

The United Dioceses of Tuam, Killala and Achonry is registered as a charity with the Charities Regulatory Authority under No. 20015237 and the Revenue Commissioners No. CHY 7241. The United Dioceses of Limerick, Killaloe and Ardfert is registered as a charity with the Charities Regulatory Authority under No. 20015688 and the Revenue Commissioners No. CHY 7327. On 1st November 2021, the dioceses amalgamated to become the Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe. The Diocesan Councils remain separate.


For further information, please contact Diocesan Secretary, Mrs Lorna Sharpe at limerickdiocsec@gmail.com, or Assistant Diocesan Secretary, Mr Damian Shorten at admin@tka.ie. They will be happy to help you and to answer your questions.




Go raibh maith agaibh go léir!  

A sincere expression of thanks for financial support in 2025 towards the churches, their upkeep, ministry and mission can be found here:

Pastoral care and enquiries:  

Revd Suzanne Cousins 
Aughaval Group of Parishes, 
United Dioceses of Tuam, Limerick & Killaloe, Church of Ireland 
Tel. 083 800 3233 
Email aughaval@tuam.anglican.org

Aughaval Parishes' website  aughaval.tlk.ie

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AughavalParishes


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